Domaine Henri Chauvet - Braconage 2024
Henri Chauvet is among the young winemakers who quickly drew attention to the revival of Auvergne wines since his establishment in Boudes, south of Issoire. Arriving in spring 2021, he took over a vineyard of about 10.5 hectares in a historic area where vines now survive on more modest surfaces than in the past. His journey, enriched by experiences in the Rhône Valley and notably with Thierry Allemand in Cornas, led him to seek terroirs capable of producing wines that are at once frank, lively, and deeply rooted in their place. In Boudes, he finds a rare mosaic of soils, between red clays rich in iron oxide, quartz, colored marls, and more distinctly volcanic or basaltic plots. This geological diversity gives the Gamays, Pinots Noirs, and Chardonnays of the region a unique expression, often more structured and earthier than one might imagine for Auvergne. Henri Chauvet's work is part of a search for wines that are lightly made-up, driven by indigenous yeasts, sober aging, and limited cellar intervention. With Braconage 2024, he extends this sensitivity through a Gamay cuvée vinified as Vin de France, resulting from a trading work carried out in the same spirit of precision and sincerity.
Braconage 2024 is a cuvée made from Gamay coming from the Orliénas sector, in the Coteaux du Lyonnais, and claimed as Vin de France. This origin distinguishes it from wines directly from the Auvergne plots of Boudes, while maintaining an obvious kinship with Henri Chauvet's universe through its winemaking approach. The Gamay is worked with whole clusters, with spontaneous fermentation and maceration of about 10 to 12 days, to preserve the brightness of the fruit while providing structure. The nine-month aging on lees, mainly carried out in stoneware jars with a small proportion of old 228-liter barrels, seeks more the precision of texture than the woody expression. Bottling is done without fining or filtration, in a logic of controlled natural wine, with only a minimal dose of sulfur before bottling according to available information. The 2024 vintage here gives a red wine of movement, designed to restore the freshness of Gamay, its floral dimension, and its juicy energy. Braconage thus stands as a free cuvée, immediate in its pleasure, but built with a true demand for substance and balance.
On tasting, Domaine Henri Chauvet Braconage 2024 reveals a profile of fresh, slender, and very lively Gamay, carried by aromas of small red fruits, crunchy cherry, raspberry, and redcurrant. The floral notes, slightly spicy, can recall peony, fine pepper, and a noble vegetal touch linked to the whole harvest. On the palate, the wine favors drinkability without losing relief, with a supple texture, delicate tannins, and acidity that naturally lengthens the finish. Aging in stoneware brings a sensation of purity and tension, while the old barrels remain discreet and impose no dominant woody mark. The finish is salivating, fruity, and slightly peppery, in a style of precise, digestible, and expressive natural red. This Gamay will pair very well with roasted poultry, country terrine, fine charcuterie, veal chop, pâté en croûte, or bistro cuisine around grilled vegetables. It can be drunk young for its fruit brightness, ideally slightly chilled, while retaining enough structure to evolve over a few years.
Grape variety: 100% Gamay
